We had the incredible pleasure of chatting with the marvelous and super talented British multimedia artist Patrick Church @patrickchurchny, who opened up a little bit to talk about his art and his feelings towards it, from his origins to the present.
From what art means to him to his future projects, Church lets us know him better and makes us understand his amazing art, from his canvases to his clothing brand. Original, colorful, fresh, unique, spontaneous, and trendy, his designs make all celebrities fall in love with them and he’s bringing new designs that are becoming summer essentials.
Q: How did you start your career as an artist? What’s your story with art?
A: I feel like I have always been creative and needed to express myself through creativity. I started to be interested in painting at high school, before that I wanted to be a fashion designer. The process of creating art to me feels sacred and cathartic, it’s hard to explain my process as it just comes naturally to me and there usually isn’t a plan.
Q: You’ve built a pretty big brand with some amazing designs that everyone loves. When did you decide that it was the time to build your own brand and sell your art and also do apparel?
A: I think when I met my husband and he encouraged me to make my first collection a couple of years ago. He is the brain behind everything and the only person I trust creatively, without him none of this would exist.
Q: I think you have a very unique style. How would you define it?
A: I’ve never really thought about it, I just like bright, shiny things, other people would call it trashy and I would say they are probably right.
Colton Pappas @coltonpappas photographed by Corey Myers @cmyers1105 Vadim @vad.m
Q: You use faces and body parts in your textile design. When did you find your style and why did you decide to use these elements?
A: I think it’s been a natural progression, a lot of my work is figurative and I have always been drawn to portraiture within artworks so like to explore this in my own way.
Q: Your bio says that you paint “from a personal point of view” What does that exactly mean? What’s your personal point of view?
A: It’s like keeping a diary, it’s not always profound, it’s not always funny, it can be chaotic. It’s the way I express myself, I am actually pretty introverted, and making art helps me to feel a sense of freedom.
Q: You drop new products every week instead of collections. Why did you decide to do it this way? What is coming in the following drops?
A: We decided to do drops to keep it fresh and exciting. We want to engage with our clients and have pieces they see that we post available for them straight away. I don’t find it exciting anymore to show winter clothes in spring, who wants to wait six months to buy anything. We have lots of exciting launches coming up.
Q: What does it mean to you that celebrities like Lizzo, Megan Thee Stallion, and others wear your art? How does it make you feel?
A: Honestly seeing anyone connecting with the clothing and wearing my work feels incredible, I love sharing as many people as I can wearing the pieces. They feel like family and I am so grateful to them.
Q: How do you plan your future career? Are you working in new projects?
A: I get terrible anxiety and I am constantly trying to make plans so I feel in control in some way. If I’m being honest I am always just thankful for the next commission or purchase.
Q: Being an artist and keeping creative and original must be really complicated, especially during these rough times. How has 2020 treated you and your creative process?
A: 2020 was the year we decided to go all-in and my business partner and husband was with me all year. I felt so grateful for this time we had where we got to execute our ideas without the craziness of the city. I feel like the external world was put on mute and I really got to focus on my relationship with my husband, what I could create, and dreaming up new collections.
Q: For those who are thinking of pursuing an art career, what’s the best advice you could give them?
A: Listen to others, have your own point of view, never give up.
Exclusive interview for Vanity Teen online!
Patrick Church
